Bow-facing oar.



No. 643,980. vla'cented Feb. 20, |900.

H. M. ROBERTS &'J. FITZGERALD.

BOW FACING OAR.

(Application led Nov. 20, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet |l (No Model.)

' Patented., Feb. 20, |990. H. M. ROBERTS & J. FITZGERALD. l

BOW FAGING OAR.

(Application hd. Nov. 20, 1899.)

2.Sheeh-'Shlet .2

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IIIRAM M. ROBERTS, OF VICKERY, AND JOHN FITZGERALD, OF PORT CLINTON, OHIO.

BOW-FACING OAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,980, dated February 20, 1900.

Application filed November 20,1899. Serial No. 737,634. (No model.)

Ohio, citizens of the United States, have in-` vented certain new and useful Improvements in Bow-Facing Oars; and We do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdesoription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this speciiication.

This invention relates to improvements in bow-facing oars Vand rowlocks, and has for its object the providing of means for automatically causing thefeathering of the oars and means for removably securing'the rowlock to the gunwale of the boat.

This invention consists, essentially, in new and novel means for causing the oar to feather automatically and means for securing the rowlock to the gunwale; and the invention further consists in the construction and novel arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings, Figure l is a top plan view of the rowlock, showing the oar and actuating mechanism in position to take lthe water. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a portion of the rowlock and actuating mechanism, showing the oar in feathering position. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the rowlock, showing a portion of the detail construction of the device. Fig. 4 is a plan View of the rowlock, showing the oar and actuating mechanism in position at end of stroke. Fig. 5 is a detail of the oar-holding bracket; and Fig. 6 is a transverse view, partly in section, showing portions broken away, illustrating the mechanism for automatically feathering the oar.

Referring to the drawings by letters, A indicates the gunwale of a boat, and B a suitable rowlock secured thereto in any suitable manner and provided with prongs or posts 5o B B2 at opposite ends thereof. This rowlock B is of any desired length and is provided on its ends with reduced portions b b, adapted to fit or set in recesses in brackets C C', secured to thegunwale of the boat. The bracket O is provided with an undercut groove or recess for the reception of one of the reduced ends of the rowlock, and the bracket O is provided with an undercut recess c', having one side thereof open for the purpose of permitting one of the reduced ends of the rowlock to be slipped thereinto and also With a turnbuckle O2, adapted to close the opening c to hold the rowlock in position for use. In the prongs or-posts B' B2 are recesses or seats b' h', into which set and rock a suitable oar-support D.

b2 is a tension-screw adapted to engage a convex seat in one end of the rockable support D to vary the tension thereof.

E is a bracket provided with the openings or seats EF. in the projections E2 F.3 and the ears e e. This bracket E is pivoted at the projection E3 at one end of the rockable support D, as shown at e.

F is an oar upon which are fitted two collars ff', provided with bosses f2 f3. These collars are so placed upon the oar that they will lit the openings E E and are for the purpose of preventing cutting of oars as they are turned for feathering. The collar f', fitting on the inner end of the oar, is provided with a seat or channel f4, which passes through the boss f3 and registers with a suitable seat or channel in the end of the oar. The collar fis provided with a1ugf5, that sets and runs in a slotfG in the projection F.2 of the bracket E for the purpose of limiting the rotation of the oar to about one-fourth of a revolution.

Gr is an angle-piece consisting of the arms g and g. The arm g sets and is secured in the seat or channel in the boss f3 and the end of the oar. The other arm g is provided with a ball end g2, adapted to fit into a socket h in one end of a link H. The opposite end of said link is provided with ears h h.

K is an oscillating lever pivoted at one end to the rowlock by the bolt K and having its opposite end pivoted between the ears h h of the link H.

The bolt K passes down into a chamber K2 in the rowlock B and is held cushioned therein by a spring K3, as shown, for the purpose IOO of permitting a slight tilting movement of the leverlK and taking up the wear therein.

L is a bracket similar to the bracket E, and is pivoted to the opposite end of the rockable support D and has secured therein a lever M.

N is a suitable link connecting the brackets E and L at points on opposite sides of the rockable support D.

The operation of the invention is as follows: The operation of the invention is obvious, the feathering operation being accomplished by depressing the lever M, which action lifts the blade from the water, at the same time automatically causes it to feather by the operation of the angle-piece G, which, oscillating in its socket, turns the blade of the oar from a vertical to a horizontal position. By slightly raisin g the lever M the blade is caused to resume a vert-ical position and take the water.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim is-- 1. In abow-facing oar of the character described, the combination of a rockable support, a two-part oar mounted thereon and connected by suitable levers, means for tensioning said rockable support, and mechanism, substantially as described, to give said oarblade a horizontal, a vertical and rotary movement, as set forth.

2. In abow-facing oar of the character described, the combination of a two-part oar, suitably connected, a rockable oar-support, means for tensioning said support, and mechanism, substantially as described, for automatically turning said blade when the oarsupport is rocked, as set forth.

3. In a bow-facing oar of the character described, the combination of a rockable oarsupport, means for tensioning said support, a two-part oar suitably mounted thereon, and connected by a suitable link, with levers connecting by a universal joint the end of the oar-blade with the rowlock, whereby the said blade may be automatically feathered when it is raised from the water at the end of a stroke, as set forth.

et. In a bow-facing oar of the character described, the combination of a rockable oarsupport, a two-part oar suitably mounted thereon and connected by a suitable link; with a lever connected to a rowlock and a crankpiece connected to the end of the oar and connected with said lever by a universal joint whereby the said oar is automatically turned when the support is rocked, as set forth.

5. In a bow-facing oar of the character described, the combination of a rowlock, arockable oar-support mounted therein, a lever pivoted near one end of said rockable support, an oar-holding bracket pivoted near the opposite end of said support and connected with said lever by a suitable link, an oar rotatably mounted in said bracket, and means for limiting the extent of rotation, with levers connected by a universal joint for rotating or turning said blade when the oar is raised from the water, whereby said oar is feathered when a stroke is made, as set forth.

G. In adevice of the character described, the combination with a gunwale of a boat, undercut brackets secured thereon and a turnbutton secured to one of said brackets, of a rowlock having reduced projecting ends adapted to fit into the undercut openings and be secured and immovably held therein by said turn-button.

7. In a bow-facing oar of the character described, the combination of a rockable oarsupport, a two -part oar suitably mounted thereon and connected by asuitable link, with levers connecting the end'of the oar-blade with the rowlock for automatically feathering said oar and spring mechanism for taking up the wear of the automatic feathering device, as set forth.

In testimony whereof we aix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

HIRAM M. ROBERTS. JOHN FITZGERALD.

Witnesses:

JOHN J. LEHMANN, MARGARET J. KEEFE. 

